Lasith - only player to take two hat-tricks in World Cup

Chris Dhambarage

Sri Lanka’s premier fast bowler Lasith Malinga created another unique record when he became the only player to claim two hat-tricks in a World Cup tournament fixture. The 27 year old speed star performed this rare milestone during Sri Lanka’s third Group ‘A’ match against Kenya worked off under lights at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Malinga playing in his ninth World Cup match struck in the last delivery of the 41st over and came back again to pick up two more wickets in the first two deliveries of the 43rd over.

Two deliveries later he clean bowled last man Elija Otieno to bring an end to the Kenyan innings having claimed four wickets in the space of ten deliveries at a cost of 13 runs. In fact his last six balls were recorded in the scorebook as W, W, W, Wide, dot and W.

Another significant feature in his performance was that the last three dismissals were clean bowled which was quite clear regarding his accuracy and fitness having returned to the side after an injury.

Malinga had earlier created a record by becoming the only bowler to capture four wickets in four deliveries in One Day Internationals having performed this feat in the 2007 World Cup tournament match against South Africa at Providence.